The rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and its ensuing consequences have affected almost every aspect of society and created opportunities for corruption to thrive and grow, as actions taken to quickly address the needs presented by the crisis may lead to sacrifices in transparency and accountability. Corruption risks have proliferated across a variety of fields threatening life-saving aid and further hurting the most marginalized and vulnerable populations.

In response to these growing threats, the G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group (ACWG) sought to identify key anti-corruption practices undertaken by G20 countries to address COVID-19. A survey was disseminated to all G20 countries in July 2020 to better understand the new and existing anti-corruption threats and countermeasures used to respond to the crisis and share experiences to inform global policy and strengthen international cooperation. 22 countries responded, with many using similar strategies and techniques to address common corruption risks arising from or exacerbated by COVID-19, with unique manifestations depending on national contexts and priorities.